Skopje, 27 July 2023 (MIA) - Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski referred at a Q&A session in Parliament on Thursday to the benefits of the country's Euro-integration path, the significance of continuing along that way, as well as the advantages of full-fledged membership.

"These benefits mean more jobs, better living standard, more business opportunities and enormous possibilities for development and progress," said PM Kovachevski.

He said about EUR 1 billion have been invested for modernization of the infrastructure through the IPA programme alone.

"IPA programming for 2024 is underway, with EUR 80 million available, whereas the new IPARD 3 programme includes EUR 97 million," said Kovachevski.

EU has also secured financial support for three other projects worth EUR 98.9 million, whereas the European Commission has announced EUR 100 million in macro-financial assistance to North Macedonia.

"This is another confirmation of the reform processes in the country, which represented a condition for approval of this assistance," noted Kovachevski.

Earlier, he added, the EC adopted a financial package worth EUR 3 billion for ten partners that are part of the enlargement process and in the EU neighborhood, aimed at mitigating the economic consequences of the pandemic, of which EUR 160 million have been earmarked for North Macedonia.

"We also received an EUR 80 million grant for management of the energy crisis," said Kovachevski and also mentioned the grants within the Western Balkans Investment Framework, in the sectors of energy and transport.

The PM said the support would continue with much more funds when North Macedonia joins the EU, which is demonstrated through the examples of progress in Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland...

"An EU member-state gets over 11 times more funds per capita than candidate-states. These funds are invested in the living standard, in new jobs, in implementation of European values at home," said Kovachevski.

He also referred to the record number of investments after the country joined NATO and the possibilities for domestic companies to access the Union's single market of 500 million people.

"The support from our European partners is crucial in meeting the European standards and the country's EU approximation, but also in increasing the people's living standard. That is why it is worth to be on the path of European integration. We have the chance to join the EU by 2030 with a protected Macedonian language and protected Macedonian identity. This window of opportunity is opening now and all EU member-states, North Macedonia and the region have a common interest to fully integrate the area into the Union," underlined Kovachevski.

Photo: Government